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3 weeks ago

St. Joseph County approves Motorola radio replacements and console migration estimate totaling roughly $1.36 million The county approved purchase of 50 Motorola APX portable radios for about $61,896.47 (with trade-in credits) and authorized a $1.3 million AXS dispatch console migration; staff said Motorola offered about $805,000 in promotional savings if approved by March 16.

St. Joseph County is set to modernize its emergency response with a $1.36 million upgrade to radios and dispatch consoles, ensuring reliable communications for years to come.

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3 weeks ago

Residents warn drainage board that Hexagon solar plans could damage century‑old tiles and worsen flooding Residents used privilege of the floor to present a binder and maps showing large solar proposals (described as 2,000 to 7,047 acres in different maps), urged limits near county tile lines and urged the board to require engineered detention and tile protections; county counsel materials describing the board's statutory powers were also presented.

Residents are raising alarms over massive solar developments that could threaten century-old drainage systems and exacerbate flooding in St. Joseph County.

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3 weeks ago

Residents and council member press commissioners on Microsoft data center, TIF expansion and Patriot Veil extension County council member Andy Rutten and residents including Stacia Skillman and Steve Zeifong urged commissioners to explain why the Microsoft data center and a possible TIF expansion are back before the commissioners and raised concerns about land use, school proximity, train impacts and fiscal effects on county general fund.

Residents are demanding answers from commissioners about the controversial Microsoft data center and its potential impact on their community, raising red flags about land use and tax implications.

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3 weeks ago

St. Joseph County commissioners table Capitol Avenue rail expansion; resident criticizes Microsoft presentation and TIF The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners voted Feb. 24 to table the Capitol Avenue corridor rail expansion project. During public comment a resident objected to a recent Microsoft project presentation as nontransparent and raised concerns about Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and corporate concessions.

St. Joseph County commissioners have hit pause on the controversial Capitol Avenue rail expansion amid growing public unrest over corporate transparency and Tax Increment Financing concerns.

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3 weeks ago

St. Joseph County drainage board tables dewatering permit after farmers and residents raise groundwater and crop‑damage concerns The St. Joseph County Drainage Board tabled an extension request for a dewatering permit for work near Strawberry Road after hours of public comment about groundwater drawdown, crop damage and monitoring safeguards; the applicant said monitoring is in place and urged coordination with county bridge projects.

The St. Joseph County Drainage Board has decided to delay a controversial dewatering permit after local farmers raised alarms about potential crop damage and groundwater depletion.

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3 weeks ago

Board denies GOP challenge; Dan Schutzel remains on county council ballot After extensive legal argument the St. Joseph County Election Board voted to deny a challenge from county Republicans seeking to disqualify Daniel J. Schutzel as 'not in good standing'; the board concluded statutory affiliation evidence and filings supported his ballot access and challengers signaled intent to appeal.

In a surprising turn of events, the St. Joseph County Election Board has ruled that Daniel J. Schutzel will remain on the Republican primary ballot despite challenges from local GOP leaders claiming he is "not in good standing."

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1 month ago

St. Joseph County approves MOU with Mishawaka for Capitol Avenue utility upgrades The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the City of Mishawaka and the county Redevelopment Commission that assigns roles for water and sewer extensions in the Capitol Avenue economic development corridor; the county will fund and build utilities and transfer management to the city after completion.

St. Joseph County has taken a significant step towards economic growth by approving a new agreement with Mishawaka to enhance essential water and sewer services along Capitol Avenue.

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1 month ago

Auditor outlines cash‑reserve allocations; council weighs using surplus for pension, health fund and one‑time projects The auditor presented year‑end 2025 balances and recommended a waterfall of transfers to meet reserve targets, pay down police pension liability and consider one‑time uses (paving replacement, $1M capital planning fund, employee stipend); council discussed bond rating, tradeoffs and next procedural steps for appropriation ordinances.

St. Joseph County is at a financial crossroads: should they use surplus funds for immediate community needs or play it safe for future stability?

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1 month ago

St. Joseph County redevelopment commission approves monthly budget and signals local match for South Shore realignment The commission approved a monthly budget resolution and a non-binding commitment to participate in the local share for the South Shore realignment, noting a projected $10 million county contribution as part of a $26 million local funding stack; both measures passed 4-0.

St. Joseph County's Redevelopment Commission just greenlit a $2 million budget and committed $10 million to the South Shore realignment, paving the way for exciting new transportation developments!

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1 month ago

St. Joseph County approves Teamsters highway contract, adds CDL training and pay changes The Board approved a 2026–2028 Teamsters contract for the county highway division that includes pay increases, conversion of longevity pay to an annual stipend, higher holiday pay and county support for union-provided CDL training with a prorated payback if an employee leaves within three years.

St. Joseph County just approved a groundbreaking contract with Teamsters Local 364, featuring significant pay boosts and new CDL training incentives for highway workers!

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1 month ago

Developer and engineers present sewer feasibility for Anderson Villas; board asks for refinements Developer Tim Sailor and JPR engineers briefed the Saint Joe Water and Sewer District on sewer options for the proposed Anderson Villas, now sized at roughly 100 units; the board pressed on capacity, reimbursement language tied to 'The Hills' donation agreement, and options between gravity and low‑pressure systems. JPR will return with a revised report and installer quotes.

The future of 100 new homes at Anderson Villas hangs in the balance as developers and engineers tackle complex sewer challenges and funding hurdles.

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2 months ago

County details winter priorities and equipment shortages amid heavy snow St. Joseph County staff described winter operations priorities—clearing mains and secondaries before subdivisions—and noted significant equipment outages during an extended storm, with staff estimating about 45–50 trucks operating and citing local snowfall totals.

St. Joseph County faces challenging winter conditions with heavy snowfall and truck shortages, but crews are prioritizing main roads to keep you moving.

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2 months ago

County approves settlement and amended water‑service agreement with New Carlisle After intervening in an IURC case, St. Joseph County approved a stipulation/settlement (cause no. 46314) and an amended and restated water‑service agreement expanding the Town of New Carlisle's service area; staff said the action protects prior July 2024 agreements and supports development and service continuity.

St. Joseph County has just approved a landmark settlement that expands municipal water service for New Carlisle, paving the way for future development and service continuity!

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2 months ago

Commissioners approve several change orders; DNR permitting prompts additional water-utility work The board approved change orders including a $130,359.48 added-work change with Reith Riley, a Milestone Contractors change order with an unclear transcripted amount, and a $34,342.52 change related to DNR-required grade work on an SJEC water transmission project.

St. Joseph County's board just approved significant change orders for road and utility projects, raising questions about DNR mandates and unexpected costs.

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2 months ago

Resident urges St. Joseph County to back one-year moratorium on data-center rezonings A New Carlisle resident urged the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners to support a one-year moratorium on data-center rezonings, citing concerns about expanding footprints and uncertain water and energy impacts; a commissioner defended previous public support for a recent rezoning, citing limited water impact and economic benefits.

A passionate New Carlisle resident is calling for a one-year moratorium on new data-center rezonings, raising alarms about the potential impact of the upcoming Amazon project on local resources and community health.

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3 months ago

St. Joseph County commissioners approve multiple contracts, table two resolutions The Board of Commissioners approved routine dockets and several contracts and agreements — including IT upgrades, a Laredo surveying agreement and a courthouse restoration contract — and tabled two retirement resolutions to a future meeting.

St. Joseph County Commissioners are making waves with significant IT upgrades, a historic courthouse restoration, and a pivotal project tied to Amazon—what's next on their agenda?

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3 months ago

St. Joseph County Council denies rezoning for proposed data‑center campus after long public hearing After more than 10 hours of public testimony, the St. Joseph County Council voted 7–2 to deny a petition (Bill 42‑25) to rezone roughly 1,000 acres near New Carlisle from agricultural to industrial for a proposed data‑center campus; proponents cited jobs and apprenticeships, opponents raised water, traffic, farmland, and comprehensive‑plan concerns.

In a dramatic showdown lasting over 10 hours, the St. Joseph County Council voted 7-2 to reject a controversial plan to rezone 1,000 acres for a data-center campus, igniting fierce debates over jobs, farmland, and environmental impacts.

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3 months ago

Petitioners present written commitments and technical data as council hears a lengthy public hearing on proposed West Saint Joseph County data center Petitioners seeking to rezone about 1,000 acres for a 14-building data center campus presented 12 written commitments and technical clarifications on water, power and environmental controls; the council held an extended public hearing and did not vote Thursday.

A contentious public hearing unfolded as council members scrutinized a massive data center proposal that could reshape 1,000 acres in Saint Joseph County amid community concerns and commitments by petitioners.

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3 months ago

St. Joseph County Council tables proposed land bank interlocal amid legal-cost and oversight questions After extensive testimony from MACOG, the Community Foundation and housing partners about a $20 million Lilly Endowment grant and a proposed countywide land bank, the council voted 5-4 to table Resolution Bill 88-25 to allow more work on legal-cost arrangements and oversight language with the commissioners.

The St. Joseph County Council has postponed a crucial vote on a proposed $20 million land bank aimed at revitalizing housing, amid concerns over legal costs and oversight.

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3 months ago

Residents press commissioners to clarify county support and water limits for proposed New Carlisle data center Two New Carlisle-area residents told the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners they oppose the county's supportive letter for a proposed data center, questioned the project's water allocations and asked why no enforceable limits or penalties exist for exceeding the county's stated aquifer use figure.

Residents are raising alarms over a controversial data center proposal in New Carlisle, questioning the county's lack of transparency and the staggering water use claims that could impact the community.

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3 months ago

Commissioners approve multiple change orders, plaza winterization RFQ and security addendum The board approved a set of construction change orders (a $26,100.12 deduct for Fillmore Road, a $23,106.64 increase for the Hamilton Trail structure replacement), a $27,475 RFQ award to Brown and Brown for temporary plaza winterization, a courthouse roof completion date extension with no cost change, and a security contract addendum with Trinity Protection Group that defers a 4% rate increase until 2027.

St. Joseph County commissioners made significant moves in their latest meeting, approving a series of change orders that impact local infrastructure and security services.

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3 months ago

Regional board approves MOU on IURC matters; RDC reimburses district for Mishawaka costs The St. Joseph County Regional Water and Sewer District Board approved a memorandum of understanding tied to IURC matters and confirmed the county redevelopment commission had approved reimbursement of district costs up to about $90,000 related to the Mishawaka IURC proceeding. Granger Water is disputing part of the settlement and the town of New Carlisle may file a separate IURC matter.

The St. Joseph County Regional Water and Sewer District Board has just signed a key agreement to navigate crucial IURC matters, but tensions are rising as Granger Water disputes part of the settlement.

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3 months ago

District reviews MOU with Mishawaka that would allocate sewer capacity for Microsoft site The Saint Joseph County Regional Water and Sewer District reviewed a draft MOU with the city of Mishawaka to provide regional sewer service to the northeastern county, including an interim forced main to serve a proposed Microsoft site and an average daily sewer capacity allowance of roughly 492,000 gallons; the board did not approve the MOU and asked staff to circulate exhibits for further review.

A groundbreaking MOU could pave the way for a massive sewer capacity boost in St. Joseph County, setting the stage for a major Microsoft development!

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3 months ago

Board approves Mayflower Road bridge repair change orders; county presses contractor for solutions Commissioners approved two change orders for Mayflower Road bridge rehabilitation — $4,160.35 for column repair and $28,389.90 for a wedge-and-level transition — while staff said they are evaluating three contractor-proposed repair options and urged a faster response to reopen the road.

The St. Joseph County Board is tackling bridge repair challenges head-on, approving significant funding while urging the contractor for quicker solutions!

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3 months ago

St. Joseph County approves MOU with Mishawaka defining utility service area and TIF commitments The Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the City of Mishawaka and regional partners that grants Mishawaka exclusive water and sewer service within a roughly four-mile area and ties annexation to tax-increment financing pledges for specific infrastructure projects.

The St. Joseph County Board has just greenlit a pivotal agreement that reshapes water and sewer services for Mishawaka, ensuring exclusive access and laying the groundwork for future economic development!

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4 months ago

Area Plan Commission forwards amendments to Economic Development Area No. 3 to county leaders The Saint Joe County Area Plan Commission voted to recommend APC R‑270‑25, which reduces and renames Economic Development Area No. 3 as the Capitol Avenue Economic Development Area, creates five allocation areas, adds about 72 parcels to the acquisition list and establishes a work plan to fund water, sewer and trail projects tied to planned Microsoft development.

The Saint Joe County Area Plan Commission just took a major step forward by recommending significant amendments to boost economic development and infrastructure in the newly minted Capitol Avenue Economic Development Area.

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4 months ago

Board approves property purchase for crossing project, ratifies utility exceptions and approves grants, contracts and bids On Nov. 18 the St. Joseph County Board approved a purchase agreement for 320 Lincoln Way East (Osceola), ratified utility-exception letters for two road projects, approved a federal hazmat grant application, and approved multiple vendor contracts and procurement actions including a Motorola PSAP hardware upgrade and an Evoqua CSAP laboratory contract.

The St. Joseph County Board just took major steps to enhance safety and infrastructure, including a significant property purchase and a federal hazmat grant application.

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4 months ago

Council committee forwards multiple sheriff’s office transfers to cover jail overtime and retroactive salary changes The committee advanced several sheriff’s office transfer and salary-ordinance items to the full council to cover overtime, adjustments from part-time to full-time special deputies (some made retroactive), and other staffing-related shortfalls; members pressed for clarity on who authorized benefit changes and requested tighter oversight.

St. Joseph County's council faces a heated debate over overtime funding and unexpected benefit costs for newly full-time deputies—who's accountable for the budget chaos?

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4 months ago

Council committee considers raising general fund reserve target to 30% under new cash-reserve policy Auditor staff presented a revised cash reserves policy proposing to raise the general fund target from 20% to 30% and a waterfall to allocate excess to rainy day, health insurance, workers' compensation and police pension funds; council discussed trade-offs between savings and debt reduction and asked about bond-rating effects.

A proposed cash reserves policy could significantly boost St. Joseph County's financial safety net, raising the general fund target from 20% to a robust 30%—but what does this mean for debt reduction and future funding?

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4 months ago

St. Joseph County commissioners approve revised tax-abatement ordinance despite criticism over affirmative-action language The Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18 approved ordinance 67-25 (bill 60-25), which revises the county's tax-abatement rules. Community member Steve Francis argued the change removes affirmative-action recruitment requirements; supporters said the ordinance raises average-salary requirements and adds local-investment and reporting provisions.

St. Joseph County commissioners have approved a controversial tax-abatement ordinance that critics say diminishes affirmative-action requirements, sparking a heated debate about its impact on local job opportunities.

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